Diary of an Iban Girl Abroad

My Edible Garden

Saturday, 25 January 2014

I am finding it a little hard to write these days. The hot weather, events in life and etc. I feel that the blog has been a little neglected. I need inspiration, I need ideas. How do beautiful women like (this, this, this and this) find the inspiration, and beautiful photos to boot, to write? *sigh* They are beautiful photos aren't they? These ladies are my current inspiration. They are so passionate about their lives. I need to find something that I am passionate about this year. :)

So, taking heed from Steph @ This Brown Wren, I am going to reflect on my current life...

connecting - lately, I have been connecting with a great bunch of mums. they are so passionate about the little ones. we learn a lot from each other and hopefully, our kids will grow up together. these women are currently my rock. they give me so much encouragements and advise.

nourishing - we have been cooking more at home since the beginning of the year. every week, I sit down on our dining room floor with my trusty cook books and plan our meals for the week. 6 dinners, 2 lunches.

reading - sadly, this has stopped since end of November. I ran out of series to read. I am such a picky reader, only reading paranomal romance, and books in the series that I am reading are still being written. I manage to read a total of 18 books last year. that is by far the highest and best record for me.

playing - not much outdoors play this time of year. the heat does not go well with either the Lil' Tiger and I. the heat triggers her eczema and it triggers my migraine. we have been playing a lot indoors. currently her favourite is playing doctors and nurses. she of course is the doctor.

creating - meals in the kitchen. I love that now, I can come home early and start making meals for my family. I feel so at home in the kitchen. It's the heart of our home. Will share some of our family favourites soon.

nurturing - learning how to be thankful for little things this year. Everyweek over on Instagram, I will post something that I am thankful for.

Growing - beetroots shoots have started to come out from our little veggie patch. Just when I thought I have lost them for good. Also chillies waiting to harvest soon.

Saturday, 16 November 2013

Every year, on the 1 June, we (the Dayaks) celebrate what is known as Gawai. It is a day to give thanks and offerings to the Gods for a bountiful harvest and to pray for the next year.

Today, I would like to give and say thanks to God. I do not have a big land/area to grow as much as I dream to. So I make do with what I have. Mostly I plant in containers and the little area that I have in front of my house. I have had fights with snails and slugs this year. With all the rain that we had (not that I am complaining because rain is good) they came out in force.

I tried everything to get rid of them naturally and nothing worked. Then I realised that they were not destroying my Fava bean plants. So I planted more. Two long rows of them actually and it worked. 3 months later, boutiful harvest. Now nearing it's end, I give thanks and an offering to God for the bountiful harvest. Next year, I am determined to plant more so I have enough to share with my neighbours.

Tuesday, 09 July 2013

I love gardning. It always makes me happy. It makes me happy when I harvest after months of tendering, watering and nurturing the plants. Two weeks ago, I planted peas, both broad beans and snow peas, and they are already sprouting. As always, my little curious Tiger was asking a lot of questions which I didn't mind answering. I hope one day, she loves it as much as I do.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

This week's harvest is a very small one. My garden is starting to slow down now and go into hibernation. The only thing that is growing vigorously is my Silverbeet (Rainbow Chard) . I planted them about 4 weeks ago and it was ready to be harvested. It's small because I think it's planted in pots instead of on the ground. That's ok, I like it small. :) I think it's sweeter. The last of my purple beans as well as I think the plant is dying back and one sad lonely tomato. These all went into our one pot Thai Green Curry we had for lunch. Yum. :)

The Lil' Tiger helping me water my garden. I am teaching her to plant and care for our veggie garden. She enjoys looking and finding veggies to pluck and eat. :) At least I know she is eating her veggies this way. I may plant strawberries in the spring just so that she can pick them off the garden.

Monday, 15 April 2013

This year, my garden have been good to me. Here are some of the harvest that I have been enjoying and sharing with my friends and family. I think this year is a success because M and I worked together. M waters the plants every morning before it got really hot in the summer and continued to do so right through summer. I think our plants appreciate the drink every morning. Everything in my garden is planted in pots or containers. We do not have a big garden so we make do with what we have. We also use the Vertical gardening method. This means we plant upwards instead of down on the ground.

Our summer crop consisted of tomatoes, rhubarb, heaps of lemons, mint and beetroot leaves. Mmmm... This winter, we have just laid down spinach, silverbeet, sage and sweet potato. I think in the next couple of weeks, I am going to grown some broadbeans as well. We had them last year and they were amazing!

Do you have a veggie garden at home? What are you planting this season?

Friday, 20 July 2012

This was what I was able to harvest this Winter. My Chili plant is growing like mad and is churning out all these beautiful chilies. I love how RED it is. I do not eat spicy food that much though so this will either be given away or for M, who loves his spicy food.

My bean plant did not survive the hungry hungry slugs and snails though. I still need to find away to get rid of them once and for all. It is so sad to see my plant being eaten. :( I have tried every thing. Beer trap, salt ring and etc. Nothing has been able to keep them away. So sad.

One other thing that I want to try this time are mushrooms. Tiff has been growing some over at her place and I have to say, I am impressed!! I went to Bunnings the other night to see if I can get the kit but they were sold out! So I am on the HUNT for a mushroom kit either online or other gardening store.

Friday, 13 January 2012

This was what my dad built! We were having brunch outside in the patio on New Year's day and I was telling my dad that I hope my passionfruit vines would cover the back fence to absorb some heat during winter. He said that I needed a strong lettice for it to grow on and 4 hours and 3 trips to bunnings later this is what he made for me! I am amazed by his ability to just get the idea out of thin air.

I will dedicate my first passionfruit fruit to him when it comes to harvest time next year! WOOT!

Also this doubles as a tomato and bean climber when I trim back the passionfruit for the year! Double WOOT!

And yes, I do not have a garden per se but I grow everything in Containers! Owh yeah!

Friday, 26 August 2011

is not M (you know I love him) but still he is not my favourite Guy, well not at the moment. My favourite Guy at the moment is Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Why? Because ultimately I want to have his life. To be able to sustain myself with the food that I grow in the garden and also meat that I rear in my back garden. I know it's a little bit hard and far fetch but hey it's a dream right?

What I like about this guy is that he keeps me motivated with his shows and everytime after I watch one of his shows, I feel inspired to do something. Problem is his shows are usually at night on Foxtel (cable) and I can't just potter around the garden to start planting things. I have his shows recorded on our recorder and I watch it over and over again. M is beginning to wonder if I am having an affair with Hugh. Hehehe....

Hugh has inspired me to go to my local market to search for fresh produce and to support my local farmers. He has also inspired me to cook and eat things that I normally wouldn't eat. For example who knew I would LOVE avocados! I use to hate eating them and would pick them off my sandwich or salad if they have Avocados. BUT NOOOW, I cannot have enough of it. I love them and use them instead of using butter in my sandwich.

I cant wait to start gardening when the rain stops. Last summer was really bad, every single plant that I have DIED with the heat. Even my trusty Lime tree at the back died but we discovered the other day that little green shoots werr coming out from the dead tree so everything is not lost. I am hoping that it will come back stronger than the last tree.

The only 2 plants that survived the heat was my lavender bush and my rosemary bush. It's getting out of control and I will have to get M to trim it down a little bit. With the Rosemary, I am thinking of drying it and maybe package it up nicely to give to friends as gifts. Hopefully I will get a blog post out on how to make your own dried herbs.

Here is a list of plants that I want to get in soon.

Beans.

Tomatoes

Chillies.

Fennel (which we have never tried planting before)

Butternut pumpkin

Potatoes.

Zucchinis

Eggplant.

Again we will be planting some in tubs and some on the ground in front. I can't wait to start planting and teaching the Lil' Tiger how to harvest them. :*). Lastly I leave you with a tribute to my favourite guy... It made my day.